Total bankruptcy filings in calendar year 2025 were 565,759, an 11% increase from the 508,953 registered during calendar year 2024, according to data provided by Epiq AACER, a provider of U.S. bankruptcy filing data. While representing a substantial year-over-year increase, total bankruptcy filings remain lower than the pre-pandemic total of 757,816 recorded in CY2019.
Overall consumer filing totals for calendar year 2025 were 533,949, representing a 12% increase from the 478,752 consumer filings the previous year. Consumer Chapter 7 filings increased 15% to 332,706 in CY/25 from the previous year’s total of 288,908. The 200,055 consumer Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings during calendar year 2025 registered a 6% increase over 2024’s total of 189,004.
“Year over year, we observed double‑digit growth in bankruptcy filings, and December’s results highlight a sharp acceleration as volumes continue to normalize toward pre‑pandemic levels and a return to more typical economic pressures,” Michael Hunter, vice president of Epiq AACER, said. “December’s 21% rise in consumer filings — driven by a 24% increase in Chapter 7 and 17% in Chapter 13 — signals the momentum we expect to continue into 2026 as consumers and businesses in distress seek bankruptcy for protection.”
Commercial bankruptcy filings increased 5% to 31,810 in calendar year 2025 from the 30,201 registered the previous year. Commercial Chapter 11 filings increased 1% in 2025 to 7,940 from 7,893 filings the previous year. Small business subchapter V elections within Chapter 11 rose 11% in calendar year 2025 to 2,446 from the 2,202 recorded in 2024.
“The increase in bankruptcies reflects the convergence of economic stressors that continue to weigh on consumers and businesses,” Amy Quackenboss, executive director of American Bankruptcy Institute, said. “Elevated borrowing costs, persistent inflation and geopolitical uncertainty have more families and businesses seeking a financial fresh start through bankruptcy.”
Total bankruptcy filings were 45,935 in December 2025, a 20% increase from the December 2024 total of 38,163. The consumer bankruptcy filing total of 43,387 climbed 21% over the 35,789 consumer filings in December 2024. Consumer Chapter 7 filings were 27,150 in December 2025, up 24% from the 21,911 Chapter 7 filings in December 2024, while consumer Chapter 13s increased 17% to 16,147 in December from 13,809 the previous year.
Overall commercial filings also increased 7% in December 2025, as the 2,548 filings were up from the 2,374 commercial filings registered in December 2024. The 592 commercial Chapter 11 filings in December represented a 6% increase from the 556 Chapter 11 filings in December 2024. Subchapter V elections within Chapter 11 increased 36% in December 2025 to 238 from the 176 filings recorded in December 2024.
